1. Commenting upon the draft Procedural Order n° 1 sent to it by the Secretary of the Arbitral Tribunal, Respondent proposed to insert the following provision:

Respondent requests the insertion of the following section, to which Claimants object: Public Access to Hearings and Documents 25.1 In accordance with Annex B of the Agreement between Canada and the Slovak Republic for the Promotion and Protection of Investments signed on 20 July 2010, the following provisions shall apply in respect of the public access to hearings and documents.

25.2 Hearings held shall be open to the public. To the extent necessary to ensure the protection of confidential information, the Tribunal may hold portions of hearings in camera.

25.3 The Tribunal shall establish procedures for the protection of confidential information and appropriate logistical arrangements for open hearings, in consultation with the parties.

25.4 All documents submitted to, or issued by, the Tribunal shall be publicly available, unless the parties otherwise agree, subject to the redaction of confidential information.

25.5 Notwithstanding § 24.4 (sic) and in conformity with § 23.1 (sic), any Tribunal award shall be publicly available, subject to the redaction of confidential information.